Nigel Lythgoe Says Paula Abdul’s Sexual Assault Allegations Against Him Are ‘False’ and ‘Deeply Offensive’

Nigel Lythgoe denies Paula Abdul’s allegations that he sexually assaulted her.

Earlier this week, Abdul, 61, accused Lythgoe, 74, of multiple counts of sexual assault in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, claiming he sexually assaulted her on two occasions while they were both working at American Idol and So you think you can dance.

Now, in a statement to TMZ, Lythgoe has responded to Abdul’s claims, telling the outlet, “To say I’m shocked and saddened by the allegations made against me by Paula Abdul is an insane understatement. For over two decades, Paula and I have communicated as dear and completely platonic friends and colleagues.”

Noting that he learned of Abdul’s allegations “out of the blue” from the press, Lythgoe continued: “I want to be clear: not only are they false, they are deeply offensive to me and everything I stand for. … I cannot pretend to understand exactly why she would file a lawsuit she must know is untrue. But I can promise to fight this horrible stain with everything I have.”

A representative for Lythgoe did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

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Paula Abdul, Nigel Lythgoe.

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Paula Abdul Sues American Idol, SYTYCD Executive producer Nigel Lythgoe for alleged sexual assault

According to her lawsuit — which was filed under the Sexual Assault and Concealment Act, which allows civil sexual assault lawsuits to be filed even if the statute of limitations has expired — Abdul is suing the defendants for sexual assault/assault, sexual harassment, gender-based violence and negligence.

The lawsuit names Lythgoe, 19 Entertainment Inc., FremantleMedia North America Inc., American Idol Productions Inc. and Dance Nation Productions Inc. as accused.

19 Entertainment Inc. and FremantleMedia North America Inc. did not respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

American Idol Productions Inc. is detailed in the lawsuit as a subsidiary of Fremantle, while Dance Nation Productions Inc. lists as a subsidiary of 19 Entertainment Inc.

Paula Abdul, Nigel Lythgoe.

Steve Granitz/WireImage; Paul Archuleta/Getty

According to Abdul’s lawsuit, the first incident involving Lythgoe allegedly occurred in the early 2000s, when both were working on Idol. The lawsuit alleges Lythgoe sexually assaulted Abdul, who was a judge on the show between 2002 and 2009, “while en route to a regional audition” during one of Idolfirst season.

The lawsuit alleges that upon entering the elevator, “Lythgoe pushed Abdul against the wall, then grabbed her genitals and breasts and began shoving his tongue down her throat.”

“Abdul tried to push Lythgoe away from her and let him know that his behavior was not acceptable,” the document added.

After the alleged assault, a tearful Abdul called one of her representatives and informed them of what she said had happened, the lawsuit states. However, she decided not to take any action “for fear that Lythgoe would fire her American Idol.”

Abdul also claims that she was “discriminated in terms of compensation and benefits compared to one of the show’s male judges and the host”, and that she was the victim of “constant ridicule, bullying, humiliation and harassment”, during her time on the show.

Paula Abdul, Nigel Lythgoe.

Steve Granitz/WireImage

Paula Abdul Says She’s ‘Only Scratched the Surface’ in Life: ‘I’m the Queen of the Renaissance’ (Exclusive)

The second attack allegedly occurred in 2015, according to the lawsuit, when Abdul was a judge at SYTYCD.

During a dinner party at Lythgoe’s home, which the singer attended “believing it to be a professional invitation,” Lythgoe allegedly “pounced on Abdul while she was sitting on his couch and tried to kiss her, announcing that the two would make a great ‘power couple,’ ” by suit.

Abdul, the document states, “pushed Lythgoe away from her, explaining that she was not interested in his pursuits,” and then left his property.

The lawsuit also details an alleged assault Abdul witnessed by Lythgoe against the “Straight Up” singer’s assistant, identified in the documents as April. The incident allegedly took place in April 2015.

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